Blunts: Pros, Cons, Flavor and Whether a Filter Tip Is Worth It

A blunt is weed rolled in a tobacco-leaf wrap, usually the outer leaf of a split cigar or cigarillo, instead of a regular rolling paper. That wrap is what makes it different from a joint: blunts hold more weed, burn slow and even, and taste stronger, but the leaf adds tobacco and nicotine, the smoke is harsher and they take some practice to roll.

In other words, the defining feature of a blunt, compared with a regular joint, is the wrap: it's made from tobacco leaf, like the ones used for cigars, rather than a standard rolling paper.

That one detail gives blunts a lot of their signature qualities, including flavor, aroma, effect and burn time.

Plenty of regular smokers who are learning to roll end up going for blunts for a few reasons: they hold more herb, they burn slow and even, and they look pretty eye-catching.

Still, if you've never smoked one, rolling a blunt can look like a challenge. It's not impossible, though, so here's how it's done.

Pros and cons of smoking blunts

Some smokers roll nothing but blunts, while others save them for special occasions. Either way, it helps to know the upsides and downsides before you commit. Here are some of the pros and cons of smoking blunts.

Pros:

• They burn slowly.
• They're great for passing around a big group.
• Some smokers like the stimulating buzz the tobacco adds.
• Wraps come in all kinds of flavors.

Cons:

• Tobacco is bad for your health.
• The tobacco and added flavors can mask the taste of your weed.
• The smoke can be noticeably harsher.
• It takes a while to learn to roll them right.

How to roll a blunt

Step 1: Grind your weed

Before you start rolling, do a little prep. Make sure your weed is ground and ready to go. That way, once you've split and cleaned out the tobacco wrap, you can go straight to rolling.

For a more even grind, use a grinder. If you don't have one, break the weed up carefully with your fingers, aiming for small pieces of roughly the same size.

Step 2: Pick your wrap

Your choice of wrap is a big deal and can make or break the session. If you're new to rolling, experiment with different brands and maybe even try a flavored wrap or two.

Step 3: Split the wrap

Ideally, use a razor blade or a sharp utility knife to slice the cigar or cigarillo lengthwise down the middle, clean and straight. You can also do it by hand, just be careful not to tear or crack the leaf. Once it's open, dump out the tobacco and toss it or save it for later.

Step 4: Moisten the wrap

Dampen the wrap a little, with water or spit. Don't soak it; the goal is to make it more flexible without it falling apart. Wet fingertips or a damp brush work well.

Step 5: Load the weed into the wrap

Hold the wrap in one hand, usually your non-dominant one, curving it into a U shape with your index fingers and thumbs. Fill it with weed, making sure to leave enough wrap to roll it into a cylinder that fully covers the herb.

Step 6: Roll your blunt

Using both hands, gently rock the wrap back and forth to pack and even out the weed. Then bring one edge of the wrap up and over the weed, tucking it under the opposite side. The wrap should cover the weed completely.

Step 7: Seal your blunt

Lick the top edge and press it down onto the other edge to seal it. Make sure the seam is closed along the entire length of the blunt.

Step 8: Spark it and enjoy

Here's the moment you've been waiting for: light one end and enjoy the smoke.

Do blunts taste stronger than joints?

With the right rolling papers, a joint should taste like nothing but the weed inside it. Blunts, on the other hand, have a heavier flavor and thicker smoke, mostly because of the thick tobacco wrap.

Tobacco and nicotine naturally have a bolder taste, so that character comes through loud and clear. On top of that, most blunt wraps are flavored, which pumps the taste up even more.

Should you put a filter tip in a blunt?

Old-school blunt rollers might tell you to skip the filter, but times have changed, and a lot of people want the perks of a blunt without the nastier side of the smoke.

Filter tips are small pieces of material you put in the mouth end of a joint or blunt (like the tip of a cigarette). They can catch some of the ash and gunk produced as you smoke, though they don't make the smoke safe, and they also help hold the blunt together and keep bits of weed out of your mouth when you pull.

You can make a simple crutch by rolling up a piece of card stock, or buy ready-made tips in all kinds of materials (even corn husk). Some even come flavored. Glass tips are popular too because they're reusable. Each type filters differently, so do some research and find the one that works best for you.

Learning to roll a blunt isn't hard. Like anything in life, it's trial and error until you find the way that feels most comfortable for you. What are you waiting for?